Correction to Lords Oral Answer

Lord Marland: The answer I provided to a supplementary question raised by Lord O'Neill of Clackmannan on the timing of the commercial availability of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in relation to Lord Hunt of Kings Heath's Parliamentary Question on 28 July (Official Report, cols. 1292-93) was inaccurate in terms of the detail on the CCS demonstration programme.
	The corrected answer is as below.
	The first CCS commercial-scale demonstration in the UK is likely to be the CCS demonstration competition, which is the subject of an ongoing procurement exercise. We are currently supporting detailed front-end engineering and design (FEED) work. We expect to make an announcement on the preferred bidder next year and depending on the choice of project could see the first commercial-scale demonstration in the UK by 2014.
	On the additional three CCS demonstration projects we plan to launch a call for proposals by the end of this year with operation of all three plants by 2020 at the latest.
	The UK's programme of CCS demonstration projects is designed to accelerate the proving of CCS so that the technology can be offered on commercial terms from 2020.

EU: Competitiveness Councils

Baroness Wilcox: The EU informal Competitiveness Council (Internal Market) took place in Brussels on 29 and 30 September 2010. I represented the UK at the EU ministerial dinner on 29 September which discussed EU patent reform and at the council sessions on 30 September.
	At the EU patent ministerial dinner on 29 September, the main discussion topic was how to progress the proposed EU patent language translation arrangements. Most member states felt the Commission's three-language regime proposal (English, French and German) was acceptable. The UK supported the proposal and was keen to reach agreement. One or two member states wished to explore other possible options and the presidency undertook to hold follow-up bilateral meetings with member states to help try to reach an agreement.
	The informal council on 30 September comprised industry presentations and ministerial discussions which focused on future EU competitiveness and how the EU should respond to global competition. The sessions included a high-level panel discussion in the morning on the EU's long-term strategy, which BIS Secretary of State Vince Cable (who the presidency had invited to be on the high-level panel) took part in. The panel session discussed the importance of promoting competitiveness and innovation to secure EU economic growth. At the council's afternoon sessions, EU Ministers discussed ways to strengthen the EU internal market. I stressed the UK's EU priorities of deepening the EU single market, promoting trade and maintaining flexible labour markets in order to boost EU competitiveness.
	I am placing a copy of this Written Ministerial Statement in the Library of the House.

Baroness Wilcox: The EU formal Competitiveness Council will take place in Luxembourg on 11 and 12 October 2010. This Statement covers business to be taken at the council. I shall represent the UK on internal market issues on 11 October and Andy Lebrecht, the UK's deputy permanent representative to the EU, will represent the UK on industry and research issues on 12 October.
	The main items on the internal market agenda on 11 October will be a discussion on the proposal for a council regulation on the translation arrangements for the European Union patent, a presentation and debate on the planned Commission communication on future priorities for the EU single market (the Single Market Act) in advance of its publication now expected in late October, and a Commission progress report on monitoring the retail market.
	The substantive industry items on 12 October will be the adoption of council conclusions on a communication relating to a new political framework for tourism in Europe, plus a presentation and debate on the Commission's forthcoming innovation union (research and innovation initiative) from an industry perspective.
	The research items on 12 October will cover a discussion of the innovation union initiative from a research perspective, the adoption of council conclusions on simplification of EU research and innovation programmes and on joint programming initiatives on agriculture, food security and climate change, cultural heritage and global change: a new challenge for Europe and healthy food for healthy life.
	There will also be 10 presidency briefing items taken on both days under any other business:
	late payment;
	the role of the different council formations with a view to future economic and political co-ordination;
	outcome of informal Competitiveness Council (industry) 14 and 15 July 2010;
	sustainable material management and consumption and production towards a more resource-efficient Europe;
	outcome of energy challenges facing European industry conference at Spa on 16 and 17 September 2010;
	high-level meeting in Brussels, 22 September 2010, on advancing the rights of the consumer in the economic market;
	ITER;
	outcome of informal Competitiveness Council (research) 15 and 16 July 2010;
	recommendation by Strategic Forum for International Science and Technology (S&T) co-operation on strengthening dialogue and S&T co-operation with Africa; and
	pilot project for joint programming on neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.
	The Government's main aims will be:
	to support the Commission proposal for an EU patent language regulation, and for political agreement on this basis;
	to encourage the publication of a Single Market Act that focuses on economic measures to support economic growth across the EU;
	to confirm the need to identify and tackle barriers to cross-border retail;
	to support the adoption of the council conclusions relating to the Commission communication on tourism;
	to encourage development of EU support towards boosting the potential for investment in research and innovation to make Europe an attractive place to develop new products;
	to support the introduction of less complicated procedures to make EU research and innovation programmes more attractive; and
	to support the launch of three new joint programming initiatives.
	I am placing a copy of this Written Ministerial Statement in the Library of the House.

Independent Public Service Pensions Commission

Lord Sassoon: Lord Hutton of Furness has today published his interim report on public service pensions. The Government welcome the publication of this report and will give careful consideration to the findings so far. The Government expect to be able to respond in more detail at the spending review later this month.
	The report is available in the Vote Office and in the Printed Paper Office and it has been deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.
	Periodic updates of the commission's work will be made available through the website located at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/indreview_johnhutton_pensions.htm.

Questions for Written Answer: Correction

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: I regret that due to an administrative error the Written Answer given to Lord Pearson of Rannoch on 27 September 2010 (Official Report, col. WA 551) was incomplete. The full answer is as follows.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the mean annual per-capita cost to the Exchequer, in total and broken down by salary, pension provision, expenses, staff salaries, staff pension provision, staff expenses, building maintenance and any travel between parliamentary buildings of each member of (a) the House of Commons, (b) the House of Lords, (c) the European Parliament, (d) the Scottish Parliament, (e) the National Assembly for Wales, (f) the Northern Ireland Assembly, and (g) the Greater London Authority. HL988
	The House of Commons and House of Lords have provided data relating to costs on a resource basis, consistent with their resource accounts.
	
		
			 House of Commons Note 2009-10 
			   £000 
			 Members' salaries, pensions, allowances and travel a 154,989 
			 Salaries and pensions for House staff b 80,488 
			 Accommodation, including rent, operating costs and security c 86,607 
			 Other administration costs d 11,832 
			 Total  433,916 
		
	
	Notes:
	(a) Member salaries, pensions, expenses (including staffing expenditure, administrative and office expenditure, personal additional accommodation expenditure, communications expenditure), travel, contribution to Members' staff pensions, temporary secretarial assistance, staff redundancy and winding-up allowance only. These figures are currently provisional pending the completion of the Members Resource Accounts. The payment of Members' salaries and expenses transferred to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority following the 2010 General Election.
	(b) Cost of House staff salaries taken from the Administration Resource Accounts.
	(c) Accommodation costs taken from Administration Resource Accounts include buildings rental, accommodation services, security, depreciation on land and buildings, and cost of capital charge.
	(d) This figure is the net resource outturn less (b) and (c). The figure for 2009-10 includes a one-off technical accounting adjustment worth £40.5 million following the revaluation of the parliamentary estate.
	(e) There were 646 Members of Parliament during 2009-10.
	
		
			 House of Lords   
			 £000s  2009-10 
			 Salaries, pensions, for Members (1) 17,237 
			 Salaries and pensions for admin staff  21,883 
			 Accommodation costs, including rent, operating costs and security  26,384 
			 Other costs (2) 46,151 
			 Total  111,655 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Members of the House of Lords do not receive a salary but are entitled to reclaim reimbursement of expenses. This figure includes Members' expenses.
	2. Includes income and non-cash expenditure.
	European Parliament
	The European Parliament outturn figures for 2009 and budget figures for 2010 can be found on the European Parliament website(3).
	(3) European Parliament Budget Information can be found on its website at http://www.europarl.europa.eu/parliament/public/staticDisplay.do?language=EN&id=153
	Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales, the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Greater London Authority
	This is a matter for the devolved bodies and the Greater London Authority.